The Bombay High Court has quashed a complaint of domestic violence lodged against Rajesh Khanna’s wife Dimple Kapadia, daughter Twinkle Khanna and son-in-law Akshay Kumar by Anita Advani, who was reportedly the late actor’s live-in partner.
Justice Tahaliyani quashed legal proceedings against the family. He observed that Advani’s relation with Khanna was not of the nature of marriage and so, she cannot seek relief under the provisions of Domestic Violence Act. The court further held that all family members of Khanna cannot be roped into the proceedings as Advani had never lived with them.
Dimple’s counsel had argued that a woman in a live-in relationship with a married man cannot claim relief under the Domestic Violence Act.
In 2013, Advani had filed a complaint before a magistrate under the provisions of Domestic Violence Act against Dimple, daughters Twinkle and Rinkie and son-in-law, Akshay.
Advani had claimed that she was evicted from Khanna’s suburban bungalow ‘Aashirwad’ after his death, and had sought monthly maintenance and a three-bedroom flat in Bandra.
Appearing for the Khanna family, senior counsels Shirish Gupte and Mahesh Jethmalani argued that Advani cannot claim relief under the Domestic Violence Act or maintenance as Dimple and her family were not living with Khanna or Advani.
In her petition, Dimple had contended that she was the legally-wedded wife of Khanna and no other woman could claim share in the wealth left behind by her husband.
Rajesh Khanna, the first Hindi film actor to gain superstardom in Indian films, died on July 18, 2012, after a brief illness.